Women’s Wellness FAQ’s

How does Women’s Wellness add to routine women’s health care?

Most of today’s healthcare for women is focused on screening for disease. Often times the screening process is rushed, awkward, uncomfortable, or fear-inducing. Rarely is a women’s healthcare visit truly preventative, aimed at giving her the pro-active skill set to take charge of her health. A Women’s Wellness visit is purely focused on strengthening the internal resources, awareness and connection of a woman to her body and its wisdom.

Women’s Wellness and Holistic Pelvic Care ™ are the future of progressive, preventive and integrative healthcare for women; they invite women in to their own bodies to create new healthy foundations for their bodies and lives.

Where can I learn more about integrative Women’s Wellness and Holistic Pelvic Care™?

You can learn more with any one of Tami Lynn Kent’s books: Wild Feminine, Mothering From Your Center, or Wild Creative.

What can I expect during my initial session?

Your session will begin with a detailed intake, including your health history and overall health goals. Dr. Suzanne will review pelvic anatomy with you and answer your questions. Before your session begins, she will step outside so you can undress from the waist down and lie comfortably covered on your back.

To begin your session, Dr. Suzanne will guide you to relax, breathe and bring your focus into your pelvis. She will conduct a brief manual internal pelvic evaluation by palpating and identifying trigger points and muscular tension patterns in your pelvic floor. The assessment is followed by hands-on treatment to balance your pelvic floor muscles. This includes internal myofascial release work in combination with guided breath and relaxation.

The goal of your session is to increase circulation and flow within your pelvic bowl, to release and balance muscular tension patterns and to teach you self-care tools to stay healthy. Most initial sessions run for 90 minutes with 30-40 minutes of actual bodywork.

What happens after my initial session?

Most women schedule a series of sessions depending upon their desired health goals. Continued self-care is the focus. As we work together we are training you to be your own healer on an ongoing basis. The number of treatments you choose depends on your response, your integration and the extent of your symptoms. Working in combination with other practitioners for a team approach is encouraged.

How many sessions will I need?

Depending upon your desired goals you may choose anywhere from 2 to 6 sessions of focused bodywork to address your primary complaints. Follow-up bodywork sessions of 50 minutes can be scheduled every 5 to 10 days.

Many women choose to do a series of 3 to 4 sessions on an annual or biannual basis to maintain their pelvic health.

What if I don’t have any obvious pelvic symptoms?

No symptoms? That’s great! Don’t wait to have symptoms before you start taking care of yourself! Your pelvis serves you in many ways, yet routinely receives little direct care or attention. The benefits of connecting with this powerful part of your physical and energetic anatomy include increased vitality, creativity and a deep sense of well-being.

What are the benefits of internal vaginal bodywork?

The benefits of physical medicine apply equally to all muscles and fascia. Imagine your tight shoulders scrunched up from working on a computer all day. Those tight bands of muscle benefit immensely from physical touch in order to restore circulation. Your pelvic floor muscles are the same. After years of unconsciously clenching your pelvic muscles or enduring extended periods of sitting there can be reduced blood, lymph and energy flow in your pelvic floor. Internal vaginal bodywork can release congestion and tension.

Can I have a session without the internal vaginal bodywork?

Yes. Each woman is unique and requires a complete health history and assessment to determine what will serve her best. Internal vaginal bodywork is contraindicated during pregnancy, initial postnatal healing, with a history of severe trauma and abuse, or when vaginal penetration is intolerable.

Vaginal bodywork may not be appropriate for you based on your history, your comfort level, or other factors. If you have any contraindications or reservations whatsoever, internal bodywork will not be performed. Dr. Suzanne can still teach you self-care strategies for pelvic health and can guide you to breathe, relax and balance your pelvic energies without internal work.

What happens if I am menstruating on the day of my appointment?

There is no need to cancel or reschedule your appointment. You can receive Holistic Pelvic Care™ treatments while you are menstruating. Because it is a natural cycle of shedding the old, menstruation can assist you in releasing outdated physical and energetic patterns.

What exactly is internal vaginal bodywork?

Internal vaginal bodywork consists of slow, steady trigger point and myofascial release techniques, gentle pressure and stretching, to unwind and unknot the pelvic floor muscles. This is combined with your deep focused participation in awareness, breath and guided relaxation exercises.

Can Dr. Suzanne advise me on gynecological problems?

Dr. Suzanne is a Chiropractor trained in special pelvic healing techniques, and she uses them, when indicated, as part of a holistic chiropractic protocol. Dr. Suzanne is not a Medical Doctor, Gynecologist, Nurse Practitioner or Physical Therapist so she does not handle medical emergencies, diagnose or treat illnesses, nor advise about medications. She can support you as part of your health care team. If you are curious about HPC, please schedule a free 15 minute consult with Dr. Suzanne to discuss if it is appropriate for you at this time.

What are Dr. Suzanne’s credentials?

Dr. Suzanne is a California licensed Chiropractor. She is trained to work with the musculoskeletal, fascial and energetic aspects of the spine and pelvis. She has personally trained with Tami Kent, the creator of Holistic Pelvic Care ™. She is listed on Tami’s site as a Certified Practitioner, and she has assisted Tami during professional HPC trainings.

Do you accept insurance?

Dr. Suzanne does not accept insurance.

Will my insurance cover Holistic Pelvic Care ™?

You may contact your insurance company to determine your coverage and submit receipts directly to them for reimbursement . Holistic Pelvic Care ™ may fall outside of covered services unless they are referred by a Medical Doctor

If you would like to discuss Women’s Wellness with Dr. Suzanne, you can schedule a 15 minute free consult below.